Buckle and strap



Sept 23, E947. F. J. MACK 2,427,797

BUCKLE AND STRAP Filed April l0, 1944 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 23, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUCKLE AND STRAP Francis J. Mack, Camden, N. J.

Application April 10, 1944, Serial No. 530,365

1 Claim.

This invention aims to provide novel means whereby a belt, or equivalent structure, may be adjusted to a predetermined length and held in that condition, it being possible to slack away the belt, Without rendering the end portions of the belt free of each other.

The invention aims, further, to provide novel buckles capable of carrying out the operation alluded to.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel belt and buckle combination accomplishing the slacking away of the belt, as hereinafter alluded to.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices oi that type to Which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinaiter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in elevation, a belt and buckle combination constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation wherein the device of Fig. 1 is viewed edgewise;

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing one form of buckle capable of being embodied in the invention;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the buckle depicted in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing a modified buckle, parts being broken away. 4

Fig. 6 is a transverse section showing a modication applicable to the buckles disclosed in Figs. 3 and 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevation sho-wing another modification of the buckle, the bucklev of Fig. 7 resembling the buckle of Fig. 3, and being anchored pivotally on a flexible element.

Figure 8 is an elevation of the modification illustrated in Figure 6.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, there is shown a buckle, made of any material having the necessary rigidity and strength, the buckle comprising a first member I, including a cross bar 2. Tongues 3 are rigidly connected to the ends of the cross bar, the tongues being 2 inset, adjacent to the cross fbar, as shown at 4. The terminal portions 5 of the tongues 3 are disposed approximately at right angles to the cross bar 2.

The drawings disclose a second member 6, including a transverse head 'I and an arm 8 projecting from the intermediate portion of the head and disposed substantially at right angles to the head. A means is provided for mounting the arm 8' pivotally on the intermediatev portion of the cross bar, said means, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, being an eye 9.

The tongues 3 are long enough to overlap the head l.

In the modication disclosed in Figure 5, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the sufx a The arm 81 is integrally connected with the cross bar 2a, as shown at 23, and is connected rigidly to the head la, by riveting shown at 24. The tongues 3EL are pivotally connected to the ends of the cross bar 2a for swinging movement toward and away from the head la. The pivotal mounting of the tongues 3 on the cross bar 2a is designated by the reference numeral 50.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 and Figure 8, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the exponent b. The tongues 3b overlap the head 1b. The head Ib is provided at its ends with rectangularly disposed ngers I0, which project toward the opposite surface of the head. Except for the addition to the head of the ngers I0, the buckle illustratedin Figures 6 and 8 is like that described above, and illustrated in Figures 1 through 4.

In the modication shown in Fig. '7, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the exponent 0. The eye 9C of the arm ilc has an extension II, extended outwardly with respect to the cross bar 2c.

The extension Il has an opening adapted to receive a rod I2 or other anchorage element, located in a tubular loop or socket I4 on a iiexible member I5, the loop or socket I4 being provided with notches 22 which expose portions of the anchorage rod I2, the extensions Il of the arms 8'3 being received in the notches.

The form shown in Fig. '7 is peculiarly adapted for use in connection with surgical bands and similar articles, which must be of considerable width, in many instances.

Reverting to Figs. 1 and 2, the drawings show a separable connection of the buckle type, including a pair of straps I6 and I9, the word 3 strap being used to indicate any construction to which any of the buckles are applicable, and imposing no limitation as to width or structural material.

The cross bar 2 is pivotally received in a loop or eye I1 of the strap I6, that strap having a transverse keeper I8, for the reception of the free end of the strap I9. The arm 8 passes through an elongated longitudinal slit 20 in the strap I9. The strap I9 is provided with pairs of holes 2|, spaced apart longitudinally of the strap, the holes of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of the slit 20. The head 'I engages the outer surface of the strap I9, that is, the surface of that strap which is remote from the loop Il of the strap I6. The tongues 3 are engaged in any selected pair of holes 2|.

Under the conditions last above described, the strap structure I9-I6 is held at a predetermined length. When the tongues 3 are disengaged from the holes 2I, the straps I9 and I6 are relatively slidable, longitudinally, until the arm 8 engages the strap I9 at the righthand end 5U of the slit 2G in Fig. 1. The straps, then, have been slacked away Without detaching them one from the other. The structure is peculiarly useful in connection with belts, but is not conned to that use.

The arm 8 is flattened, as shown best in connection with the arm 8b of Fig. 6, and the arm, therefore, will slide readily in the slit 20, and the slit need not be of objectionable width.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 and Figure 8, the fingers IIJ cooperate with the opposite longitudinal edges of the strap I9b, and aid in holding the strap in shape and in place, especially if the strap is somewhat thin.

The modied forms of buckle, of course, are applicable to strap construction depicted in Figs. 1 and 2.

Generally considered, the device includes a separable connection of the buckle type, including a pair of straps I9 and I6, the strap I9 having `an elongated longitudinal slit 20, and having holes 2'I disposed on opposite sides of the slit. The buckle is permanently but pivotally assembled, by means of the loop I'I, with the strap IS, the buckle including tongues 3, engageable in the holes 2I. The buckle, moreover, includes a part, such as the arm 8, passing through the slit 20, the strap I9 being slidable on the tongue until the tongue engages the strap I9 at one end 50 of the slit 20, thereby to permit the straps I6 and I9 to have relative longitudinal movement without detaching them one from the other.

In all of its forms, the device is simple, but will be found to consummate the ends outlined in the opening portion of this specication, and touched upon elsewhere therein.

What is claimed is:

A buckle, comprising a cross-bar, tongues each rigidly connected at one end to the ends of the cross-bar, the other ends of the tongues being free, a head spaced from the cross-bar in parallel relation thereto, an arm rigidly connected at one end to the head intermediate the ends of the head, the arm being pivotally connected at its other end to the cross-bar, and the free ends of the tongues overlying the head.

FRANCIS J. MACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,282,635 Amendola May 12, 1942 760,171 Atwell May 17, 1904 1,856,447 Williams May 3, 1932 185,328 Kelsey Dec. 12, 1876 

